Rotorua was heating up on Saturday when 14 men and women took chilli eating to the limits at Brew Bar.
Local man Josh Shotter came out on top at the sixth heat of the New Zealand Chilli Eating Championships.
Mr Shotter will head up to Auckland on July 18 for the finals, representing Rotorua and Brew Bar.
Image 1 of 8: Fire Dragon Chillies New Zealand Chilli Eating Champs held at Rotoruas Brew Bar on Saturday
It was the first time he had entered in a competition like this, he said.